Washing machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a washing machine capable of suppressing vibration and noise and capable of reducing a gap between a circumferential wall of an outer tub and a housing so as to reduce a useless space. The washing machine includes a box-shaped housing having an internal space opened upward; and a washing tub unit suspended and supported through a hanger bar in the internal space. The washing tub unit includes an outer tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape; an inner tub presented in a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape, coaxially configured inside the outer tub and rotatably supported by the outer tub; and a driving mechanism arranged at a lower end of the outer tub and configured to drive the inner tub to rotate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a washing machine capable ofsuppressing vibration and noise.

BACKGROUND

In the past, in an ordinary known washing machine, a bottomedquasi-cylindrical outer tub is supported inside a box-shaped housing anda washing and dewatering tub as an inner tub is rotatably supported atan inner side of the outer tub (for example, referring to patentliterature 1).

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating anexample of an ordinary washing machine 101.

An outer tub 105 and an inner tub 106 are coaxially configured in aninner space Sp of a housing 2, and a bottom plate 161 of the inner tub106 is provided with an agitator 63. Furthermore, a lower side of abottom plate 151 of the outer tub 105 is provided with a drivingmechanism 107 capable of selectively causing the inner tub 106 and theagitator 63 to rotate.

A washing tub unit 104 is formed by the outer tub 105, the inner tub 106and the driving mechanism 107, and the washing tub unit 104 is suspendedand supported inside the housing 2 through hanger bars 103. Each hangerbar 103 is configured obliquely at a specified angle θ, a base end 103Aside is mounted at a suspending and fixing portion 25 arranged near anupper end 24 of the housing 2; and a top end 103B side is mounted at asuspended and supporting portion arranged at a lower portion of acircumferential wall 152 of the outer tub 105 via a damping mechanism31. Thus, the washing tub unit 104 is elastically supported. Thus,excessive vibration caused by the rotation of the inner tub 106 and theagitator 63 in a washing or dewatering process can be inhibited.

Herein, width and depth dimensions of a place for arranging the abovewashing machine 101 are limited by a waterproof plate and a house layoutin a family. That is, the arrangement area of the washing machine 101shall not be too big. Furthermore, since the washing machine 101 is setto be capable of washing multiple washings, the washing capacity isdesigned to be big as far as possible, so that the washing machinebecomes lengthwise.

Furthermore, the washing tub unit 104 which is also designed to belengthwise like the housing 2 exists from a position near the upper end24 to a position near a bottom surface 21 in a manner of occupying amajority of internal space Sp of the housing 2. Since the washing tubunit 104 is provided with the driving mechanism 107 having a weight atthe bottom plate 151 forming the outer tub 105, a center-of-gravityposition Pc is located below the center. Therefore, a height Hc0 of thecenter-of-gravity position Pc0 of the washing tub unit 104 is 30% of aheight Hu from an arrangement surface F to the upper end 24 of thehousing 2.

Furthermore, in order to effectively suppress the swinging rotation ofthe washing tub unit 104, the hanger bar 103 is preferably mounted at aposition of a generally same height as the center-of-gravity Pc0 of thewashing tub unit 104.

Therefore, the above suspended and supporting portion 53 is arranged atthe lower portion of the circumferential wall 152 of the outer tub 105.Therefore, a distance Ls0 from the suspending and fixing portion 25forming a supporting point for installing the hanger bar 103 to asupporting point of the suspended and supporting portion is lengthened.

CURRENT TECHNICAL LITERATURE

Patent literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2011-240041

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

As described above, in the existing washing machine, since thecenter-of-gravity position of the washing tub unit is low, but thedistance between the supporting points for suspending and supporting thewashing tub unit is long, the swinging of the washing tub unit isincreased along with the rotation of the inner tub and the agitator,causing a tendency that the vibration and the noise are increased. Inaddition, in order to prevent the washing tub unit from contacting thehousing during swinging rotation, a gap is necessary to set between thecircumferential wall of the outer tub and the housing, and the gapbecomes a useless space, so that the washing capacity is limited.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the present invention is to effectively solve suchproblem and specifically to provide a washing machine capable ofeffectively suppressing vibration and noise of a washing tub unit andcapable of reducing a gap between a circumferential wall of an outer tuband a housing so as to reduce a useless space.

SOLUTION FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

In order to achieve related purposes, the present invention adopts thefollowing solution.

Namely, a washing machine of the present invention includes a housingpresented in a box shape and having an internal space opened upward; anda washing tub unit suspended and supported in the internal space througha hanger bar, wherein the washing tub unit has: an outer tub presentedin a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape; an inner tub presented in abottomed quasi-cylindrical shape, coaxially configured inside the outertub and rotatably supported by the outer tub; and a driving mechanismarranged at a lower end of the outer tub and configured to drive theinner tub to rotate; a base end side of the hanger bar is mounted nearan upper end of the housing, a top end side is mounted at a lowerportion of the outer tub, and a center of gravity of the washing tubunit is set at a position higher than a vertical height center of thehousing.

Furthermore, the hanger bar in the present invention are preferablymounted at a predetermined angle; the top end side is mounted at asuspended and supporting portion of the lower portion of acircumferential wall of the outer tub; and the suspended and supportedportion is set at a position higher than a vertical height center of thehousing.

Furthermore, in the present invention, preferably, the driving mechanismselectively drives the inner tub and an agitator arranged at a bottom ofthe inner tub by transferring a rotating force of a motor, and a depthof the inner tub is set to be in a range of 50% to 70% of a diameter ofthe inner tub.

Moreover, in the present invention, preferably, an accommodating portionis arranged below the washing tub unit.

Further, the accommodating portion is preferably a drawer in the presentinvention.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention described above, since the washingtub unit is suspended and supported by from the upper end of the housingwith the hanger bar as a supporting point, and the center of gravity isset at the position higher than the vertical height center of thehousing, the swinging of the inner tub when the inner tub is driven bythe driving mechanism to rotate is reduced, thereby reducing thevibration and noise. In addition, since the swinging rotation isreduced, correspondingly a gap between the circumferential wall of theouter tub and the housing can be narrowed, thereby reducing a uselessspace. Therefore, the washing capacity can be increased bycorrespondingly enlarging the diameters of the outer tub and the innertub forming the washing tub unit.

Furthermore, according to the present invention in which the suspendedand supporting portion where the top end side of the hanger bar ismounted is located at the position higher than the vertical heightcenter of the housing, in the case that the dimension of the housing andthe installation position of the hanger bars on the housing are set tobe same as a conventional case, a distance between the supporting pointssupporting the washing tub unit through the hanger bars is reduced.Therefore, the swinging of the washing tub unit can be further reduced,and the vibration and noise can be further reduced. Furthermore, sincethe hanger bars are installed at the specified angle, and the distancebetween the supporting points is shortened, compared with thetraditional washing machine, the circumferential wall of the outer tubcan be disposed in an outer diameter direction, thereby reducing theuseless space. Furthermore, by reducing the vibration, the gap betweenthe outer tub and the housing and the gap between the outer tub and theinner tub are also allowed to be reduced, so that the diameters of theouter tub and the inner tub can be increased, and the washing capacitycan be increased.

Furthermore, according to the present invention in which the depth ofthe inner tub is set to be in a range of 50% to 70% of the diameter,since the obliquity of the inner tub relative to the outer tub can bereduced without damaging the washing performance of the washing machine,the gap between the outer tub and the inner tub can be reduced, thewashing capacity is further increased, and the amount of useless water(i.e. dead water) injected between the outer tub and the inner tub whenin washing can be reduced. In addition, in a case of adopting thediameter the same as the traditional washing machine, since the depth ofthe inner tub is reduced, the washings become easy to take out.Furthermore, since a distance among the washings, water and agitator atthe upper portion of the inner tub is reduced, and a stirring forcegenerated by the agitator is easy to transfer, thereby reducing the loadof a motor, and reducing manufacturing cost and energy consumption.

Furthermore, according to the present invention in which theaccommodating portion is arranged below the washing tub unit, a spacebelow the washing tub unit can be effectively utilized, thereby furtherimproving the usability.

Particularly, according to the present invention in which theaccommodating portion is the drawer, the accommodating portion can beused as an accommodating space of detergents, softening agents, orutensils related to the washing and the like, thereby further improvingthe usability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a washing machine ofan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating thesame washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the same washing machine.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating anexample of an existing washing machine.

A LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1, 101: washing machine-   2: housing-   3, 103: hanger bar-   3A, 103A: base end (of hanger bar)-   3B, 103B: top end (of hanger bar)-   4, 104: washing tub unit-   5, 105: outer tub-   6, 106: inner tub-   7: driving mechanism-   8: drawer (accommodating portion)-   24: upper end (of housing)-   51, 151: bottom plate-   52, 152: circumferential wall-   53: suspended and supporting portion-   61, 161: bottom plate-   62, 162: circumferential wall-   63: agitator-   72, 172: motor-   73, 173: power distribution unit-   Dp0, Dp1: depth (of inner tub)-   Hb: height center of housing-   Hc0, Hc1: height of center of gravity (of washing tub unit)-   Hu: height of housing-   Pc0, Pc1: center of gravity (of washing tub unit)-   Sp: internal space-   θ: angle (of hanger bar)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with referenceto drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a washing machine 1of embodiments of the present invention. The washing machine 1 has asubstantially quadrangular shape in top view, and FIG. 1 illustrates astate that the washing machine 1 is sectioned at a position of adiagonal line. Furthermore, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a generalstructure of the washing machine 1 and omitting portions unrelated tothe present invention. It shall be noted that the same referencenumerals are given to the portion in FIG. 1 same as that in the existingwashing machine 101 shown in FIG. 4.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 isconfigured as a called vertical type washing machine and has a housing 2and a washing tub unit 4 suspended and supported inside the housing 2through hanger bars 3. In addition, the washing tub unit 4 has abottomed quasi-cylindrical outer tub 5, a bottomed quasi-cylindricalinner tub 6 coaxially configured inside the outer tub, and a drivingmechanism arranged at a bottom of the outer tub 5.

The housing 2 is formed by a substantially rectangular bottom surface 21and four wall surfaces 22 erecting from the bottom surface 21 and isformed into a box shape having an internal space Sp opened upward.Moreover, four corners of the bottom surface 21 have feet 23. Thevertical height of the housing 2 of the present embodiment refers to aheight including the feet 23 and is defined as a height from anarrangement surface F to an upper end 24 of the housing 2. Four cornersnear the upper end 24 of the housing 2 are provided with hook-shapedsuspending and fixing portions 25, and the suspending and fixingportions 25 suspend base end 3A sides of the hanger bars 3 so as tofunction as supporting points for hanging the hanger bars 3.

The upper portion of the housing 2 is provided with a cover 26integrated with an operation panel, one portion of the cover 26 isconfigured as an opening and closing cover 26 a, as shown in FIG. 2, andthe internal space Sp can be opened and closed by changing the openingand closing cover to be in an open state PO and a closed state PC.

Returning to FIG. 1, the outer tub 5 forming the washing tub unit 4 is abottomed quasi-cylindrical member having a substantially circular bottomplate 51 in top view for forming the bottom and a circumferential wall52 erecting from an edge portion of the bottom plate 51. Hook-shapedsuspended and supporting portions 53 are substantially uniformly andintegrally configured at four portions of the lower portion of thecircumferential wall 52 in top view. The suspended and supportingportions 53 can be mounted at top end 3B sides of the hanger bars 3.

The inner tub 6 is configured as a so-called washing and dewatering drumand formed into a bottomed quasi-cylindrical shape having asubstantially circular bottom plate 61 in top view for forming thebottom and a circumferential wall 62 erecting from an edge portion ofthe bottom plate 61. The inner tub 6 is configured inside the outer tub5 coaxially with the outer tub 5, and rotatably suspended and supportedby the outer tub 5 through the driving mechanism 7. The bottom plate 61and the circumferential wall 62 are provided with a plurality of waterthrough holes not shown, and water in the inner tub 6 can be dischargedthrough the water through holes. Furthermore, an agitator 63 generallycalled an impeller is coaxially arranged right above the bottom plate 61of the inner tub 6.

The driving mechanism 7 includes a basal plate member 71 installed atthe lower surface of a bottom plate 51 of the outer tub 5, a motor 72installed at the basal plate member 71, and a power distribution unit 73including a clutch. The motor 72 and the power distribution unit 73respectively have a belt pulley 72 a and a belt pulley 73 a; and theperipheries of the belt pulleys 72 a and 73 a are wounded with anannular transmission belt 74, so that the power can be mutuallytransferred.

The power distribution unit 73 has two output shafts 75 and 76 coaxiallyassembled. The first output shaft 75 at the inner side is connected tothe center of the above agitator 63, and the second output shaft 76 isconnected to the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6. The powerdistribution unit 73 can selectively switch an output target of adriving force inputted from the motor 72 through the belt pulley 73 aonly to the first output shaft 75 or to both the first output shaft 75and the second output shaft 76 according to an external instruction.Therefore, the washing machine 1 can only enable the agitator 63 torotate when in washing, and enables the inner tub 6 and the agitator 63to rotate integrally when in dewatering.

Four hanger bars 3 are configured correspondingly to four corners of thehousing 2. Each hanger bar 3 is slightly obliquely configured in such amanner that top ends 3B are close to each other, and the base ends 3Aare suspended and fixed at the suspending and fixing portions 25 of thehousing 2. Moreover, the top end 3B is provided with a damping mechanism31 including a spiral spring 31A serving as an elastic member, and theupper end 31A of the damping mechanism 31 is suspended and fixed at thesuspended and supporting portion 53 arranged at the outer tub 5. Thus,the washing tub unit 4 including the outer tub 5 is suspended andsupported through four hanger bars 3.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view schematically illustrating thewashing machine 1. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given toportions same as those in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 2, adimensional relation of various portions is described below in detail.

Firstly, a height Hu of the housing 2 is defined as a dimension in thevertical direction from the arrangement surface F to the upper end 24 ofthe housing 2. In the present embodiment, an overall dimension of thehousing 2 is set to be substantially same as that of the existingordinary washing machine, and the height Hu of the shell 2 is set to beabout 770 mm which is the same as the housing of the existing washingmachine.

Moreover, the bottom plate 61 of the inner tub 6 is arranged at aposition higher than the existing washing machine, and the distance fromthe upper end 24 of the housing 2 to the bottom plate 61 is configuredto be short.

Herein, the depth Dp1 of the inner tub 6 is defined as a dimension inthe vertical direction from the upper end 24 of the housing 2 to thelowermost portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate 61 of theinner tub 6, and the diameter Di1 of the inner tub 6 is defined as amaximum diameter at an inner surface of the circumferential wall 62 ofthe inner tub 6. In the existing ordinary washing machine 101 (referringto FIG. 4), in the case that the depth Dp0 and the diameter Di0 of theinner tub 106 are defined same as above, generally the depth Dp0 of theinner tub 106 is about 110% of the diameter Di0 and is longer in alengthwise direction.

Relative to this, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment,the depth Dp1 of the inner tub 6 is set as about 60% of the diameter Di1and about half of the depth of the inner tub of the existing washingmachine. Therefore, the washings can be easily taken in and out of theinner tub 6. Furthermore, since the height Hu of the housing 2 is sameas that of the housing of the existing washing machine, the upper end 24may not become too low and people do not need to bend down to take inand out the washings.

Furthermore, since the inner tub 6 is connected with the second outputshaft 76, a height from the supported bottom plate 61 to the upper end64 is reduced. Therefore, even in the case of taking the washings to alimit position of the upper end 64, the washings may also be imbalancedwhen in rotation, and the torque acting in a tilting direction of theinner tub 6 is also reduced. Therefore, relative displacement betweenthe outer tub 5 and the inner tub 6 can be reduced, so that the gap Ci1between the circumferential walls 52 and 62 of the outer tub 5 and innertub 6 is smaller than the gap Ci0 between the circumferential walls 152and 162 of the outer tub 105 and the inner tub 106 of the existingwashing machine. Specifically, the gap Ci1 is set as about 80% of theexisting gap Ci0. Thus, the useless space can be further reduced; andmoreover, useless water, i.e. dead water, entering the gap between theouter tub 5 and the inner tub 6 when in washing can also be reduced.

Furthermore, in the case that the stirring force generated by theagitator 63 needs to be transferred to the upper end 64 of the inner tub6 when in washing, since the height to the upper end 64 is reduced, thestirring force can be set to be relatively small. Therefore, thecapacity of the motor 72 can be set to be smaller than that of theexisting motor 172; and moreover, the load resistance performance of thepower distribution unit 73 is set to be smaller than that of theexisting power distribution unit 173, so that the miniaturization andcost reduction of the driving mechanism 7 can be realized. Furthermore,the electric power consumption generated by the motor 72 can also bereduced, thereby reducing the operation cost.

Furthermore, as described above, when the bottom plate 61 of the innertub 6 is set at a higher position, the bottom plate 51 of the outer tub5 and the driving mechanism 7 mounted at the side of the lower surfaceside are also set at higher positions. Therefore, the integralcenter-of-gravity position Pc of the washing tub unit 4 is also set at ahigher position.

Herein, the height Hc1 of the center Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 isdefined as a dimension in the vertical direction from the arrangementsurface F to the center of the gravity Pc. In the existing ordinarywashing machine 101 (referring to FIG. 4), in the case that the heightHc0 of the center of gravity Pc0 of the washing tub unit 104 is definedsame as above, generally the height Hc0 of the center of gravity Pc0 isabout 40% of the height Hu of the housing 2.

Relative to this, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment,the height Hc1 of the center of gravity Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 isgreater than 50% of the height Hu of the housing 2. That is, in the casethat a half position of the height Hu of the housing 2 is defined as aheight center Hb in the vertical direction of the housing 2, the centerof gravity Pc1 of the washing tub unit 4 is higher than the position ofthe height center Hb.

Therefore, in the case that the agitator 63 and the inner tub 6 aredriven by the driving mechanism 7 to rotate, and particularly duringdewatering operation that the agitator 63 and the inner tub 6 areintegrally driven to rotate at high speed, even in the case of swingingrotation of the washing tub unit 4, since the upper end 24 of thehousing 2 having the supporting points for suspending and supporting thehanger bars 2 is close to the center-of-gravity position Pc1, theswinging is reduced and the overall vibration and noise are reduced.

Furthermore, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, as thebottom plate 51 of the outer tub 5 and the center-of-gravity positionPc1 of the washing tub unit 4 are set to be higher, the position of thesuspended and supporting portion 53 for installing the top end 3B sideof the hanger bar 3 is also higher than the position of the suspendedand supporting portion of the existing washing machine. Specifically,the distance Ls1 from the suspending and fixing portion 25 forinstalling the base end 3A of the hanger bar 3 to the supporting pointof the suspended and supporting portion 53 for installing the top end 3Bside is reduced to be about 60% of the distance Ls0 between thesupporting points of the existing washing machine. Therefore, theswinging of the washing tub unit 4 can be further reduced, therebyfurther reducing the vibration and noise.

Furthermore, the length La1 of the hanger bar 3 can also be shortened byshortening the distance Ls1 between the supporting points. Specifically,in the case of utilizing the damping mechanism same as before, thelength La1 of the hanger bar 3 is changed to be about 70% of the lengthLa0 of the hanger bar 103 of the existing washing machine. Therefore, aneffect for reducing the manufacturing cost of parts and furthernarrowing the useless space in the housing 2 can be achieved.

Furthermore, each hanger bar 3 is inclinedly mounted at a predeterminedangle θ such that the top end 3B sides are close to each other. Thus, apulling force is applied to four corners of the washing tub unit 4through each hanger bar 3, so that the stability of the central positionof the housing 2 in top view can be improved. Specifically, the angle θis also set to be about 9° same as that of the existing washing machine.

In the case that the hanger bars 3 are inclined at the specified angleθ, corresponding to the distance Ls1 between the supporting points forinstalling the hanger bars 3, a gap Co1 between the wall surface 22 ofthe housing 2 and the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 needsto be set. In the present embodiment, as described above, the distanceLs1 between the supporting points is set to be about 60% of the distanceLs0 between the supporting points of the existing washing machine, andcorrespondingly the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 isdisposed in the outer diameter direction, thereby narrowing the uselessspace, and the gap Co1 is smaller than the gap Co0 of the existingwashing machine. Specifically, the gap Co1 is set to be about 80% of thegap Co0 of the existing washing machine, and correspondingly thediameter of the outer tub 5 is increased.

Moreover, except that the gap Ci1 between the outer tub 5 and the innertub 6 is set to be smaller than the gap Ci0 of the existing washingmachine, by setting the gap Co1 between the wall surface 22 of thehousing 2 and the circumferential wall 52 of the outer tub 5 to besmaller than the gap Co0 of the existing washing machine, the diameterDi0 of the inner tub 5 is increased correspondingly. Specifically, thediameter Di0 of the inner tub 5 is set to be about 115% of the diameterDi0 of the inner tub 105 of the existing washing machine, and the spacein the radius direction is increased, thereby increasing the washingcapacity. Therefore, the washing capacity is not reduced proportionallyto the reduction of the depth Dp1, but a sufficient washing capacity canbe ensured.

Furthermore, for the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment asdescribed above, the washing tub unit 4 is integrally installed at thetop, so that the lower side of the internal space Sp can be open to alarge extent. Therefore, the space can be used to install the drawer 8as the accommodating portion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating the washing machine andillustrates a condition that the drawer 8 is drawn forwards. The lowerportion of the wall surface 22 at the front side of the washing machine1 is provided with a rectangular opening 22 a which is longer in atransverse direction, and the inner side of the opening is provided withthe drawer 8. Therefore, the space below the washing tub unit 4(referring to FIG. 2) can be effectively utilized, thereby furthernarrowing the useless space. Furthermore, the drawer 8 is used as theaccommodating space for detergents, bleaching agents and softeningagents necessary for washing as well as utensils such as washing netsand the like, so that a peripheral environment of the washing machine ina tendency of disorder can be easily sorted and arranged, and theusability is further improved.

It shall be noted that a specific structure of each portion is notlimited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiments, the accommodating portion 8 isconfigured as the drawer, and the accommodating portion can also beconfigured as a storage shelf with an opening and closing door.

Furthermore, various apparatuses for increasing additional functions canalso be properly included and can be integrally configured to substitutethe accommodating portion 8.

Furthermore, the dimension of each portion of the washing machine 1 isnot limited to the above solution and can be appropriately changed.

Various variations can be made to other structures without departingfrom technical spirit of the present invention.

1. A washing machine, comprising: a box-shaped housing having aninternal space opened upward; and a washing tub unit suspended andsupported in the internal space through a hanger bar, wherein thewashing tub unit comprises an outer tub presented in a bottomedquasi-cylindrical shape; an inner tub presented in a bottomedquasi-cylindrical shape, coaxially configured inside the outer tub androtatably supported by the outer tub; and a driving mechanism arrangedat a lower end of the outer tub and configured to drive the inner tub torotate; a base end side of the hanger bar is mounted in the vicinity ofan upper end of the housing, and a top end side is installed at a lowerportion of the outer tub; and a center of gravity of the washing tubunit is set at a position higher than a height center in a verticaldirection of the housing.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein the hanger bar is mounted at a predetermined angle, and the topend side is mounted at a suspended supporting portion arranged at thelower portion of a circumferential wall of the outer tub; and thesuspended supporting portion is set at a position higher than the heightcenter in the vertical direction of the housing.
 3. The washing machineaccording to claim 2, wherein the driving mechanism selectively drivesthe inner tub and an agitator arranged at a bottom of the inner tub bytransferring a rotating force of a motor; and a depth of the inner tubis set in a range of 50% to 70% of a diameter of the inner tub.
 4. Thewashing machine according to claim 2, wherein an accommodating portionis arranged below the washing tub unit.
 5. The washing machine accordingto claim 4, wherein the accommodating portion is a drawer.
 6. Thewashing machine according to claim 3, wherein an accommodating portionis arranged below the washing tub unit.
 7. The washing machine accordingto claim 6, wherein the accommodating portion is a drawer.